Abstract: The portable animal shelter includes a platform having an upper surface on which the animal can sit or lie, and at least one receptacle on or in the upper surface adapted for receiving a heat transfer medium adapted for cooling or warming the animal. In another aspect of the invention, the portable animal shelter includes the platform, and a canopy positionable over at least a portion of the upper surface defining an at least partially enclosed space for receiving the animal.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling off-line credit vend transactions are provided, including a vending system having a vend selection and delivery portion operable off-line, an associated credit card reader, and a transaction controller operatively connected to the card reader to receive information read from an inserted credit card and operatively connected to the vend selection and delivery portion to enable operation thereof. The system is operable, while off-line, to determine acceptability of an inserted card and the current availability at such system of off-line credit for an acceptable credit card, to enable operation of the vend selection and delivery portion if credit is authorized, and to be responsive to vend completion by the vend selection and delivery portion to store transaction information for the credit vend. The credit vend transaction information can later be downloaded and utilized for credit billing purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing concrete from the interior surfaces of a concrete mixing drum, the drum including an open end and at least one interior surface facing away from or opposite the open end, the apparatus including an elongate probe having a longitudinal axis and an axially extending forward end adapted for insertion into the drum through the open end thereof; a vertically adjustable support structure supporting a guideway support, the guideway support including at least one bearing adapted for supporting the probe for movement of the forward end thereof into and out of the drum through the open end thereof; and at least one fluid nozzle mounted to the probe in position for discharging a stream of fluid against the at least one interior surface facing opposite the open end under sufficient pressure to dislodge accumulated concrete therefrom as the probe is moved in the drum.

Abstract: A sharpening guide assembly for use in sharpening ski and snowboard edges includes an angle member and at least one riser member. The angle member includes at least a first outer surface and a second outer surface, an inner edge of the first outer surface adjoining an upper edge of the second outer surface. The riser member is positioned on the first outer surface of the angle member such that a top portion of the riser member extends above the first surface of the angle member. The angle member is formed of a first material and the riser member is formed of a second material, wherein the second material has a hardness which is greater than a hardness of the first material. During a sharpening operation, a sharpening tool is supported on the riser member such that the sharpening tool such as a file member is positioned above the first outer surface of the angle member so as to avoid potential wear causing contact therewith.

Abstract: A method of installing a belt driven accessory on an internal combustion engine in which consists in an OEM dual alternator installation having two OEM alternator mounting brackets, each bracket configured to receive an alternator. The accessory is attached to an adapter. The adapter is attached, with the accessory attached thereto, to one of the two alternator mounting brackets, in place of an alternator which might have otherwise been attached to said one bracket; and a single drive belt is placed in operative position to drive the accessory attached to one OEM alternator mounting bracket and an alternator attached to the other OEM alternator mounting bracket.

Abstract: A safety fishhook which substantially prevents skin punctures is formed from a wire and includes a first end adapted for attachment to a line, a shank adjacent to the first end, and a curved bend extending from the shank to a free end, the curved bend defining partially enclosing a planar area, and the free end terminating within the area and being oriented at a safe angle with respect to a line bounding the curved bend and the first end.

Abstract: An artificial neural network-based system and method for determining desired concepts and relationships within a predefined field of endeavor, including a neural network portion, which neural network portion includes an artificial neural network that has been previously trained in accordance with a set of given training exemplars, a monitor portion associated with the neural network portion to observe the data outputs produced by the previously trained artificial neural network, and a perturbation portion for perturbing the neural network portion to effect changes, subject to design constraints of the artificial neural network that remain unperturbed, in the outputs produced by the neural network portion, the perturbation portion operable such that production of an output by the neural network portion thereafter effects a perturbation of the neural network portion by the perturbation portion, the monitor portion responsive to detection of the data outputs being produced by the previously trained neural networ

Abstract: A device for management of diabetes is disclosed which comprises a programmable microprocessor based unit having a display, keyboard, and memory, the keyboard for inputting information concerning carbohydrates ingested by a user, the microprocessor being programmed to determine an amount of insulin to be used by a user based upon the carbohydrates ingested and the display displaying the amount of insulin to be used.

Abstract: A dampening device for use with conventional finish dirt scrapers characterized by a shaft with the lower end of the shaft attached to a skid shoe and the upper end of the shaft having a piston mounted thereon which operates in a cylinder, wherein the cylinder has a divider containing an orifice which separates the chamber into a lower chamber and an upper chamber and a by-pass oil line with the upper end opening into the upper cylinder chamber and the lower end opening into the lower cylinder chamber below the piston so that the cylinder operates in a closed oil system in which the oil helps minimize bounce as the piston moves up and down, and a compression-expansion spring surrounding the shaft with the upper end abutting the bottom of the cylinder and the lower end rotatably attached to the skid shoe, the piston and spring working in unison to dampen the normal bounce of the bucket on finish dirt scrapers.

Abstract: A permanent magnet device includes a permanent magnet having north and south pole faces with a first pole piece positioned adjacent one pole face thereof and a second pole piece positioned adjacent the other pole face thereof so as to create at least two potential magnetic flux paths. A first control coil is positioned along one flux path and a second control coil is positioned along the other flux path, each coil being connected to a control circuit for controlling the energization thereof. The control coils may be energized in a variety of ways to achieved desirable motive and static devices, including linear reciprocating devices, linear motion devices, rotary motion devices and power conversion.

Abstract: Apparatus for changeable forming information, such as date, time, shift, and/or lot of manufacturer information, on members being die cast or molded. The present apparatus includes at least one information forming element adapted to be mounted in communication with the interior cavity of the die or mold and having a face positioned for forming information on the member. The face is adjustably movable relative to a reference element by an adjusting element located externally to the die or mold. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes at least one additional information forming element, the additional element being concentric with the first named information forming element and being independently rotatable to allow quickly and easily changing the information to be formed on the member.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drilling into earth strata surrounding a well casing utilizing a rotating fluid discharge nozzle and reduction of static head pressure in the well casing in conjunction with the drilling operation.

Abstract: A warmer for a sporting element used for striking another element, the sporting element to be warmed including a sidewall having a predetermined shape enclosing a space, the warmer including an inner layer of thermally conductive material defining a cavity having a shape adapted for receiving at least a substantial portion of the sporting element with the inner layer in intimate relation therewith; an outer layer of thermal insulating material at least substantially containing the inner layer; and an intermediate layer comprising at least one microwave heatable element or substance disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer. According to another aspect of the invention, the warmer can include a heatable element placeable within a hollow portion or cavity of a sporting element, the heatable element being heatable by placement in the warmer, or in a microwave oven.

Abstract: A permanent magnet device includes a permanent magnet having north and south pole faces with a first pole piece positioned adjacent one pole face thereof and a second pole piece positioned adjacent the other pole face thereof so as to create at least two potential magnetic flux paths. A first control coil is positioned along one flux path and a second control coil is positioned along the other flux path, each coil being connected to a control circuit for controlling the energization thereof. The control coils may be energized in a variety of ways to achieved desirable motive and static devices, including linear reciprocating devices, linear motion devices, rotary motion devices and power conversion.

Abstract: A horizontal band saw device for cutting lengthwise along boards passed therethrough enables increased cutting capacity of such boards and includes a head with both a first board conveyor passing therethrough and a second board conveyor passing therethrough. The head includes an inlet end, an outlet end, a board receiving passage, and a movable band saw blade, the board receiving passage having the movable band saw blade passing from a first side to a second side thereof. The first board conveyor extends through the board receiving passage of the head and beneath the band saw blade. The second board conveyor extends through the board receiving passage of the head and beneath the band saw blade, the second board conveyor being spaced from the first board conveyor.

Abstract: A coin detection device for determining a size of a coin traveling along a coin track comprises a first inductive sensor positioned along the coin track, a second inductive sensor positioned above the first inductive sensor, a processing circuit connected to the first and second inductive sensors, each of the sensors for providing an output signal to the processing circuit and the processing circuit determining the size of the coin based upon a ratio of the output signals.

Abstract: The heating/dryer apparatus includes a casing having a top and a bottom, a heating element inside a tubular member incorporated in the casing and frictionally engaged therewith, a fan incorporated in a housing in the casing located above the heating element, feet attached to the bottom of the casing and an electrical extension adapted to activate the heating element and the fan. The heating/dryer apparatus may be mounted on the end of a flexible arm attached to a mounting device having a base with a suction cup mounted therein.

Abstract: Drums or vessels with bungs or orifices having generally cylindrical walls with edges capable of being sealed-against are sealed with closures that deform into contact with those edges and provide seals that are tamper-proof.

Abstract: The nature of the process consists in that the low-grade organic substances are subject, at a temperature of 150.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. and at a pressure of 0.1 MPa to 2.5 MPa, to the action of a moving bed of solid particles of a substance which perform whirling motion, whereby the solid particles of a substance constituting the moving bed are set to whirling motion by intensive agitation.The device consists of a reaction chamber (1) with a rotation mechanism (2) which rotation mechanism (2), located rotably in the faces of the reaction chamber (1), consists of a shaft (3) to which vanes (5) are symetrically attached by means of driving discs (4). The vanes (5) may be arranged in 3 to 10 rows, and they may be provided with openings (5.1) or cut-outs (5.2) of various geometrical shapes, and they may be divided into individual segments (5.3). Also the driving discs (4) may be provided with openings (4.1) of various geometrical shapes.

Abstract: A system and process for readily determining, for a specified knowledge domain in a given field of endeavor, perturbations applicable to an artificial neural network embodying such a specified knowledge domain that will produce a desired output, comprising a first, previously trained, artificial neural network containing training in some problem domain, which neural network is responsive to the presentment of a set of data inputs at the input portion thereof to produce a set of data outputs at the output portion thereof, a monitoring portion which constantly monitors the outputs of the first neural network to identify the desired outputs, and a network perturbation portion for effecting the application of perturbations, either externally or internally, to the first neural network to thereby effect changes in the output thereof.